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{{Infobox Country or territory | |||
|native_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">{{lang|de|''Bundesrepublik Deutschland''}}</span> | |||
|conventional_long_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">Federal Republic of Germany</span> | |||
|common_name = Germany | |||
|national_motto = {{lang|de|'']''}}<br/>(] for "Unity and Justice and Freedom”) | |||
|national_anthem = {{lang|de|'']''}} (3rd stanza)<br> <small>also called {{lang|de|''Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit''}}</small> <!--The official national anthem of Germany is ONLY the third stanza! Source: http://www.bundesregierung.de/Bundesregierung/-,8394/Nationalhymne.htm--> | |||
|image_flag = Flag of Germany.svg | |||
|image_coat = Coat of Arms of Germany.svg | |||
|symbol_type = Coat of arms | |||
|image_map = LocationGermany.png | |||
|capital = ] | |||
|latd=52 |latm=31 |latNS=N |longd=13 |longm=24 |longEW=E | |||
|largest_city = Berlin | |||
|official_languages = ] <sup>1</sup> | |||
|government_type = ] | |||
|leader_title1 = ] | |||
|leader_title2 = ] | |||
|leader_name1 = ] | |||
|leader_name2 = ] (]) | |||
|sovereignty_type = ] | |||
|established_event1 = ] | |||
|established_event2 = ] | |||
|established_event3 = ] | |||
|established_event4 = ] | |||
|established_date1 = 843 (]) | |||
|established_date2 = ] ] | |||
|established_date3 = ] ] | |||
|established_date4 = ] ] | |||
|accessionEUdate = ], ]<br><small>(])<small> | |||
|area = 357,050 | |||
|areami² = 137,858 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
|area_rank = 63rd | |||
|area_magnitude = 1 E11 | |||
|percent_water = 2.416 | |||
|population_estimate = 82,438,000 | |||
|population_estimate_year = 2005 | |||
|population_estimate_rank = 14th | |||
|population_census = n/a | |||
|population_census_year = 2000 | |||
|population_density = 230.9 | |||
|population_densitymi² = 598.5 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
|population_density_rank = 50th | |||
|GDP_PPP_year = 2005 | |||
|GDP_PPP = $2.522 trillion | |||
|GDP_PPP_rank = 5th | |||
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $30,579 | |||
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 17th | |||
|GDP_nominal = $2.797 ] | |||
|GDP_nominal_rank = 3rd | |||
|GDP_nominal_year = 2005 | |||
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $33,854 | |||
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 19th | |||
|HDI_year = 2004 | |||
|HDI = 0.932 | |||
|HDI_rank = 21st | |||
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> | |||
|currency = ] (])<sup>2</sup> | |||
|currency_code = EUR | |||
|time_zone = CET | |||
|utc_offset = +1 | |||
|time_zone_DST = CEST | |||
|utc_offset_DST = +2 | |||
|cctld = ] <sup>3</sup> | |||
|calling_code = 49 | |||
|ISO_3166-1_alpha2 = | |||
|ISO_3166-1_alpha3 = DEU | |||
|ISO_3166-1_numeric = | |||
|sport_code = GER | |||
|vehicle_code = D | |||
|footnotes = <sup>1</sup> ], ], ], ] and ] are officially recognised and protected as minority languages by the ].<br/><sup>2</sup> Prior to 1999 (introduction of the euro as legal tender) and 2002 (introduction of the euro as physical notes and coins): ].<br/><sup>3</sup> The ] domain is also used, as it is shared with other ] member states.</sup> | |||
}} | |||
'''Germany''' ({{lang-de|Deutschland}} {{IPA2|ˈdɔɪtʃlant}}), officially the '''Federal Republic of Germany''' ({{Audio-de|Bundesrepublik Deutschland|De-Bundesrepublik_Deutschland-pronunciation.ogg}}, {{IPA2|ˈbʊndəsrepubliːk ˈdɔɪtʃlant}}), is a ] in ]. It is bordered on the north by the ], ], and the ], on the east by ] and the ], on the south by ] and ], and on the west by ], ], ] and the ]. | |||
Germany is a ] parliamentary ] republic of 16 ] ({{lang|de|''Bundesländer''}}). The country previously consisted of several sovereign states with their own history, culture, and religious affiliation. Germany was ] as a ] amidst the ] in 1871. | |||
The Federal Republic of Germany is a member state of the ], ], the ] and the ], and is a founding member of the ]. It is the European Union's most populous and most economically powerful member state.<ref> Foreign Direct Investment Magazine. Jan. 5, 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Germany is both the world's third largest economy and its largest exporter of goods.<ref name="cnn"> CNN. Dec. 6, 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
{{main|History of Germany}} | |||
] | |||
The state now known as Germany was ] as a modern nation-state only in 1871, when the ] was forged, with the ] as its largest constituent. This began the German '']'', usually translated as ''empire'', but also meaning ''kingdom'', ''domain'' or ''realm''. | |||
===Early history of the Germanic tribes (100 BC – AD 300)=== | |||
{{main|Germanic peoples|Germania}} | |||
The ] of the ] is assumed to have occurred during the ], or at the latest, during the ]. From southern ] and northern Germany, the tribes began expanding south, east and west in the first century BC, coming into contact with ]ic tribes of ] and ], ] and ] tribes in Eastern Europe. Little is known about early Germanic history, except through their interactions with the Roman Empire and archaeological finds.<ref name="Claster">Jill N. Claster: ''Medieval Experience: 300-1400''. NYU Press 1982, p. 35. ISBN 0814713815</ref> | |||
Under ], the Roman General ] began to invade Germany, and it was in this period that the German tribes became familiar with Roman tactics of warfare while maintaining their national identity. In AD 9, three Roman legions led by ] were crushed by the ] leader ] (Hermann) in the ]. Germany, as far as the Rhine and the Danube, thus remained outside the ]. By AD 100, the time of ]' '']'', Germanic tribes settled along the Rhine and the Danube (the ]), occupying most of the area of modern Germany. The 3rd century saw the emergence of a number of large West Germanic tribes — ], ], ], ], ], ], ]. Around 260, the Germanic peoples broke through the Limes and the Danube frontier.<ref name="Cambridge ancient history">The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. 12, p. 442. ISBN 0521301998</ref> | |||
{{see also|List of meanings of countries' names}} | |||
===The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (843-1806)=== | |||
{{main|Holy Roman Empire}} | |||
]s of the ]. From ''Bildatlas der Deutschen Geschichte'' by Dr Paul Knötel (1895)]] | |||
The medieval empire stemmed from a division of the ] in 843, which was founded by ] on ] ], and existed in varying forms until 1806, its territory stretching from the ] in the north to the ] coast in the south. Often referred to as the '''Holy Roman Empire''' (or the ''Old Empire''), it was officially called the '''Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation''' ("Sacrum Romanum Imperium Nationis Germanicæ") starting in 1448, to adjust the title to its then reduced territory. | |||
Under the reign of the ] emperors (919–1024), the duchies of ], ], ], ], ] and ] were consolidated, and in 962 the German king was crowned ] of the regions. Under the reign of the ] emperors (1024–1125), the Holy Roman Empire absorbed northern ] and ]. Under the ] emperors (1138–1254), the German princes increased their influence further south and east. | |||
The edict of the ] in 1356 provided the basic constitution of the empire that lasted until its dissolution. Starting in 1438 and for the next 300 years, the Emperors were elected nearly exclusively from the Austrian ] family. | |||
In 1530, a separate ] church was acknowledged as the new sanctioned religion in many states of Germany. This led to an inter-German dispute, the ] (1618–1648). From 1740 onwards, the dualism between ] and ] dominated the Empire's history. In 1806, the ''Imperium'' was overrun and dissolved as a result of the ].<ref name="concise h">Fulbrook, Mary: ''A Concise History of Germany'', Cambridge University | |||
Press 1991, p. 97. ISBN 0521540712</ref> | |||
===Restoration and revolution (1814-71)=== | |||
{{main|German Confederation}} | |||
] | |||
Following Napoleon's fall, the ] convened in 1814 and founded the ], a loose league of ]. Disagreement with ] politics partly led to the rise of ] movements, demanding unity and freedom. These, however, were followed by new measures of repression on the part of ]. The '']'', a tariff union, profoundly furthered economic unity in the ]. During this era, many Germans had been stirred by the ideals of the ] and ] became a more significant force, especially among young intellectuals. For the first time, the colours of black, red and gold were chosen to represent the movement, which later became the ].<ref>Martin, Norman. Flags of the World. Oct. 5, 2000. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
In light of a ], which ] successfully established a republic, intellectuals and commoners started the ]. The monarchs initially yielded to the revolutionaries' liberal demands. The Prussian king ] was offered the title of Emperor, but with a loss of power; he rejected the crown and the proposed constitution, leading to a temporary setback for the movement. In 1862, conflict between the Prussian King ] and the increasingly liberal parliament erupted over military reforms. The king appointed ] the new ]. In 1864, Bismark successfully waged ]. Prussian victory in the ] of 1866 enabled him to create the ] and to divide ], formerly the leading state of Germany, from the more western and northern parts. | |||
===Second German Empire (1871-1918)=== | |||
{{main|German Empire}} | |||
] is in white in the middle]] | |||
After the French defeat in the ], the ] (''Deutsches Kaiserreich'') was proclaimed in ] on ] ]. As a result, the new empire was a unification of all the scattered parts of Germany except Austria — ]. Beginning in 1884, Germany established ]. The young emperor's foreign policy was opposed to that of Bismarck, who had established a system of alliances in the era called '']'', securing Germany's position as a great nation, isolating France with diplomatic means and avoiding war for decades. Under ], however, Germany, ], took an ] course leading to friction with neighbouring countries. Most alliances in which Germany had been previously involved were not renewed, and new alliances excluded the country. Specifically, France established new relationships by signing the ] with the United Kingdom, and secured ties with Russia. Austria-Hungary; Germany became increasingly isolated. | |||
] | |||
On July 28 1914, ] of ] triggered ]. Germany, as part of the unsuccessful ], suffered defeat against the ] in ] conflicts of all time. In November 1918, the second ] broke out, and Emperor Wilhelm II and all German ruling princes abdicated. ] on ], putting an end to the war and Germany was forced in June 1919 to sign the ] whose negotiation, contrary to traditional post-war diplomacy, excluded the vanquished. The treaty was perceived in Germany as a humiliating continuation of the war by other means and its harshness is often cited as having facilitated the later rise of ] in the country. <ref name="lee h">Stephen J. Lee: ''Europe, 1890-1945''. Routledge 2003, p. 131. ISBN 0415254558</ref> | |||
===Weimar Republic (1919-33)=== | |||
{{main|Weimar Republic}} | |||
] | |||
After the ] in November 1918, a Republic was proclaimed. That year, the ] was established by ] and ], and in January 1919 the German Workers Party, later known as the ''Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' (], NSDAP, "Nazis"). On ], ], the ] came into effect, with the sign of the Reichspräsident Friedrich Ebert. In a cool climate of economic hardship from both the world wide ] and the harsh peace conditions dictated by the ], and a long succession of more or less unstable governments, the political masses in Germany increasingly lacked identification with their political system of parliamentary democracy. This was exacerbated by a wide-spread right-wing (], ], and ]) '']'', a political myth which claimed the ] was the main reason why Germany had lost World War I. On the other hand, radical left-wing communists, such as the ], had wanted to abolish what they perceived as ] in favour of a ]. Paramilitary troops were set up by several parties and there were thousands of politically motivated murders. The paramilitary intimidated voters and seeded violence and anger among the public, who suffered from high unemployment and poverty. After a succession of unsuccessful cabinets, on ], ], ] ], seeing little alternative and pushed by right-wing advisors, appointed ] ]. | |||
===Third Reich (1933–45)=== | |||
{{main|Nazi Germany}} | |||
]. The picture was staged a few days after the outbreak of the war for use in ] propaganda]] | |||
] with ] in Axis-occupied ]]] | |||
<!-- politics --> | |||
On ] ], the ]. Some basic democratic rights were quickly abrogated afterwards under an emergency decree. An ] gave Hitler's government full legislative power — only the ] voted against it; the Communists were not able to present a viable opposition as many of their deputies had already been murdered or imprisoned.<ref name="Stackelberg">Roderick Stackelberg, ''Hitler's Germany: origins, interpretations, legacies''. Routledge 1999, p. 103. ISBN 0415201144</ref><ref>Scheck, Raffael. Colby College. Retrieved ], ]</ref> A centralized ] state was established by a series of moves and decrees making Germany a ]. Industry was closely regulated with quotas and requirements in order to shift the economy towards a war production base. In 1936, German troops entered the demilitarized ] and ] ]'s ] policies proved inadequate. Emboldened, Hitler followed from 1938 onwards a policy of ] to establish ]. To avoid a two-front war, Hitler concluded the ] with the ], and broke it. | |||
{{main|World War II}} | |||
In 1939, the ] led to the Germans launching a ] on September 1st against ], followed two days later by declarations of war by Britain and France, marking the beginning of World War II. Germany quickly gained direct or indirect control of the majority of ]. On June 22, 1941, Hitler broke the pact with the Soviet Union by opening the ] and ]. Shortly after Japan ], Germany declared war on the United States. Although initially the German army rapidly advanced into the surprised ], the ] marked a major turning point in the war. Subsequently, the German army commenced retreating on the Eastern front, followed by the eventual defeat of Germany. On ] 1945, ] after the ] occupied ]. | |||
In what later became known as ], the Third Reich regime enacted governmental policies directly subjugating many parts of society: ]s, ], ], ], ], political dissidents, priests, preachers, religious opponents, and the ], amongst others. During the Nazi era, about 11 million people were murdered in the Holocaust, including more than 6 million Jews.<ref>Schwartz, Terese. 2002. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
] (in stripes) became a ] of France between 1947 and 1956]] | |||
===Division and reunification (1945-90)=== | |||
{{main|History of Germany since 1945}} | |||
The war resulted in the death of several million German soldiers and civilians, in total nearly ten million; ]; ] from other countries; and the destruction of multiple major cities. Germany and ] were partitioned by the ] into four military occupation zones. The sectors controlled by ], the ], the ] were merged on ] ], to form the democratic nation of the ''Federal Republic of Germany''; on ] ], the Soviet Zone established the ''German Democratic Republic''. In English, the two states were known informally as "]" and "]". | |||
West Germany, established as a liberal parliamentary republic with a "]", was allied with the United States, the UK and France. The country eventually came to enjoy prolonged economic growth beginning in the early 1950's ('']''). The recovery occurred largely because of the previously forbidden currency reform of June 1948 and U.S. assistance through the ] aid.<ref>Henderson, David. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Led by Chancellor ], West Germany joined ] in 1955 and was a founding member of the ] in 1958. Across the border, East Germany was at first occupied by, and later (May 1955) allied with, the USSR. An authoritarian country with a Soviet-style ], East Germany soon became the richest, most advanced country in the ], but many of its citizens looked to the West for political freedoms and economic prosperity.<ref>Colchester, Nico. ]. Jan. 1, 2001. Retrieved ], ]</ref> The ], built in 1961 to stop East Germans from escaping to West Germany, became a symbol of the ]. However, tensions between East and West Germany were somewhat reduced in the early 1970s by Chancellor ]s '']'', which included the ''de facto'' acceptance of Germany's territorial losses in World War II. | |||
] that had partitioned ] in front of the ] shortly after the opening of the wall]] | |||
During the summer of 1989, in the face of a growing migration of East Germans to West Germany via ] and mass demonstrations, East German authorities unexpectedly eased the border restrictions in November 1989, allowing East German citizens to travel to the West. This led to the acceleration of the process of reforms in East Germany that concluded with ] on ] ]. Under the terms of the treaty between West and East Germany, Berlin again became the capital of the reunited Germany. | |||
Since reunification, Germany has taken a leading role in the ] and ]. Germany sent a peacekeeping force to secure stability in the ] and sent a force of ] troops to ] as part of a NATO effort to provide security in that country after the ousting of the ].<ref name="ARM"/> | |||
==Administrative divisions== | |||
{{main|Administrative Divisions of Germany|States of Germany}} | |||
Germany is divided into 16 ] (in German called ''Länder'', singular '']''; commonly ''Bundesländer'', singular ''Bundesland''). It is further subdivided into 439 districts ('']'') and cities (''kreisfreie Städte'') (2004). | |||
] | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!colspan=3|] | |||
!colspan=2|] | |||
|- | |||
!colspan=2|] !! ] !! Land !! Hauptstadt | |||
|- | |||
|'''1'''|| ]||]||Baden-Württemberg||Stuttgart | |||
|- | |||
|'''2'''|| ]||]||(Freistaat) Bayern||München | |||
|- | |||
|'''3'''|| ]|| ] | |||
| |Berlin||Berlin | |||
|- | |||
|'''4'''|| ]||]||Brandenburg||Potsdam | |||
|- | |||
|'''5'''|| ]||]||(Freie Hansestadt) Bremen||Bremen | |||
|- | |||
|'''6'''|| ]|| ] | |||
| |(Freie und Hansestadt) Hamburg||Hamburg | |||
|- | |||
|'''7'''|| ]<!--please do not change it to 'Hessen', it really is 'Hesse' in the English language-->||]||Hessen||Wiesbaden | |||
|- | |||
|'''8'''|| ]||]||Mecklenburg-Vorpommern||Schwerin | |||
|- | |||
|'''9'''|| ]||]||Niedersachsen||Hannover | |||
|- | |||
|'''10'''|| ]||]||Nordrhein-Westfalen||Düsseldorf | |||
|- | |||
|'''11'''|| ]||]||Rheinland-Pfalz||Mainz | |||
|- | |||
|'''12'''|| ]||]||Saarland||Saarbrücken | |||
|- | |||
|'''13'''|| ]||]||(Freistaat) Sachsen||Dresden | |||
|- | |||
|'''14'''|| ]||]||Sachsen-Anhalt||Magdeburg | |||
|- | |||
|'''15'''|| ]||]||Schleswig-Holstein||Kiel | |||
|- | |||
|'''16'''|| ]||]||(Freistaat) Thüringen||Erfurt | |||
|} | |||
==Geography and Climate== | |||
{{main|Geography of Germany}} | |||
] | |||
===Territory=== | |||
Since ], Germany has resumed its role as a major central country between ] to the north, the ] region to the south, the ] to the west and the countries of ] and ] Europe to the east. | |||
The territory of Germany covers ] ] (137,850 ]), of which land makes up 349,223 km² (134,835 mi²) and water- 7,798 km² (3,010 mi²). In elevation, the land ranges from the high mountains of the ] (highest point: the ] at 2,962 m (9,718 ])) in the south to the shores of the ] (Nordsee) in the north-west and the ] (Ostsee) in the north-east. In between are the forested uplands of central Germany and the low-lying lands of northern Germany (lowest point: ] at 3.54 metres (11.6 ft) below sea level), traversed by some of Europe's major ]s such as the ], ] and ].<ref name="CIA"> CIA Factbook. Nov. 14, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
Because of its central location, Germany shares borders with more European countries than any other country on the continent. Its neighbours are ] in the north, ] and the ] in the east, ] and ] in the south, ] and ] in the south-west and ] and the ] in the north-west. | |||
===Climate=== | |||
]]] | |||
The greater part of Germany lies in the cool/temperate climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. | |||
The climate is influenced to some extent by the ], which promotes an unusually mild climate in areas adjacent to it. The climate in ], ], ] and ] is especially influenced by this stream and to a lesser extent the areas bordering on the ] including the peninsula of ] in north Germany and the area along the ] which flows into the ]. | |||
In the north-west and the north, the climate is ] and rain falls all year round. ] there are relatively mild and ]s tend to be comparatively cool, even though temperatures can reach above 30 degrees ] (86 °]) for prolonged periods of time. In the east, the climate shows clear ] features; winters can be very cold for long periods, and summers can become very warm. Here, too, long dry periods are often recorded. In the central part and the south, there is a transitional climate which varies from moderately oceanic to continental, depending on the location. Hot summers with temperatures about 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F) are possible.<ref> Handbuch Deutschland. Retrieved ], ]</ref><ref> World Travels. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
==Demographics== | |||
{{main|Demographics of Germany}} | |||
] are combined. The federal statistics office estimates the population will shrink to approximately 75 million by 2050<ref name="p2300022"> Federal Statistical Office Germany Jun. 6, 2003. Retrieved ], ]</ref>]] | |||
Because of the country's federal and decentralized structure, Germany has a number of larger cities. The most populous are ], ], ], ], ] and ]. By far the largest ] is the ] region, including the Düsseldorf-Cologne district and the cities of ], ], ] and ]. | |||
Germany is facing major demographic change, its birth rate being one of the lowest in the world. The federal statistics office estimates the population will shrink to approximately 75 million by 2050, with ethnic Germans risking displacement by foreigners with higher birthrates. Questions remain as to how Germany will pay for the sustenance of immigrants, in addition to its own aging population.<ref name="p2300022"/> ] is thought to be the city with the lowest birth rate in the world.<ref> Aug. 15, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
As of December 2004, about 7 million foreign citizens are registered in Germany and 19% of the country's residents are of foreign or partially foreign descent, the majority being Turkish (2.3 million)<ref>Bernstein, Richard. New York Times. March 29, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref>, or are from ], ], ], ], ] and other European states.<ref> Federal Statistical Office Germany: </ref> In its ''State of World Population 2006'' report, the United Nations Population Fund lists Germany as hosting the third-highest percentage of international migrants worldwide, about 5% or 10 million of all 191 million migrants.<ref> United Nations Population Fund: </ref> Since 2000, ] to Germany's traditionally rather unrestricted laws on ] and immigration, the number of immigrants seeking asylum or claiming German ethnicity (mostly from the former ]) has been declining steadily. <ref> (in German), German Federal Statistics Bureau (Statistiches Bundesamt Deutschland), July 6 2006. Retrieved on December 11 2006.</ref> | |||
==Economy== | |||
{{main|Economy of Germany}} | |||
] — popularly referred to as "Mainhattan", drawing clear parallels to ] — is Germany's financial centre.]] Germany is the largest ]an economy and the third largest economy in the world in real terms, placed behind the ] and ]. It is ranked fifth in the world in terms of ]. According to the ], Germany is also the world's top exporter, and number two in imports behind the United States.<ref name="cnn"/> It currently has the largest trade surplus in the world (160.6 billion euros). | |||
The export of goods is an essential part of the German ] and one of the main factors of its wealth. Overtaking the ] in 2003, Germany is now the world's largest exporter of goods with $1.016 trillion exported in 2005 (Germany's exports to other ] countries are included in this total). In export of services (], ], ], etc) it ranks third behind the United States and the ]. Although most of its exports are in engineering (such as cars, machinery, chemical goods, and optics), Germany also has a strong position in the export of ], which, according to the ], account for 15 percent of German exports. | |||
A major issue of concern remains the persistently high ] rate and weak domestic demand which slows down economic growth. The economic transition of Eastern Germany presents a major problem, as the region still lags behind the West in terms of economic development and ].<ref> Deutsche Welle. Nov. 22, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> In spite of its extremely good performance in international trade, domestic demand has stalled for many years because of stagnating wages and consumer insecurity. Germany's government runs a restrictive ] and has cut numerous regular jobs in the ].<ref> Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Retrieved ], ]</ref> But while regular employment in the public sector shrank, "irregular" government employment such as "one euro" jobs (temporary low-wage positions), government supported self-employment, and job training increased.<ref> BBC. Sep. 16, 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
==Politics== | |||
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series--> | |||
{{morepolitics|country=Germany}} | |||
=== Political system === | |||
] in Berlin. Speaking is ] ]]] | |||
Germany's political system is a framework of a ] ] ] ], whereby the ] is the ], and of a pluriform multi-party system. ] is exercised by the government. Federal ] is vested in both the ] and the two chambers of parliament, ] and ]. While the Bundestag is elected through direct elections, the Bundesrat represents the governments of the 16 German states. Since 1949, the party system has been dominated by the conservative ] and the ]<ref> U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved ], ]</ref> although smaller parties, such as the liberal ] that has been in the Bundestag since 1949 and the ] that has controlled seats in parliament since 1983, have also played important roles. | |||
The German ] is the ], elected by an institution consisting of the Bundesrat and the Bundestag (called '']'' which means ''federal convention''). The second highest official in the ] is the President of the Bundestag elected by the Bundestag itself. He is responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body. The third highest official and the ] is the ]. He is nominated by the President of Germany and elected by the Bundestag. If necessary, he can be removed by a constructive ] of the Bundestag; the term constructive referring to the fact that the Bundestag has to elect a successor in such a case. | |||
{{seealso|List of German institutions}} | |||
The ] is independent of the executive and the legislative branches. The political system is laid out in the 1949 ] under approval of the ] which wanted to ensure among other things that Germany's military forces would be restricted exclusively to defence and that a dictatorship could not arise. It is known as the ] literally "Basic Law". It is similar to the American ]. Changes in the ] require a majority of two thirds of both chambers of parliament. The ] remained in effect with minor amendments after 1990's ]. | |||
===Legal system=== | |||
{{main|Judiciary of Germany}} | |||
] in ]]] | |||
Germany has a ] based ultimately on ] with some references to ]. Legislative power is divided between the Federation and the individual federated states. While ] and ] have seen codifications on the national level (in the '']'' and the '']'' respectively), no such unifying codification exists in ] where many of the fundamental matters remain in the jurisdiction of the individual federated states. In 1976, with the ''Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz'' (VwVfG), the main form of actions of administration was codified. Most federated states have followed this codification. | |||
There are a series of special supreme courts; for civil and criminal cases, the highest court of appeal is the ] (Federal Court of Justice), located in ]. The courtroom style is ]. The Federal Constitutional Court ('']''), also located in Karlsruhe, is the German Supreme Court responsible for constitutional matters, with power of ]. It acts as the highest legal authority and ensures that legislative and judicial practice conforms to the ]. It acts independently of the other state bodies, but cannot act on its own behalf. | |||
===Foreign relations=== | |||
{{main|Foreign relations of Germany}} | |||
] meeting with French president ] and Russian president ].]] | |||
Germany plays a leading role in the ], having a strong alliance with ]. Germany is at the forefront of European states seeking to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European political, defence and security apparatus.<ref> Elysee.fr May 13, 3004. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
Since its establishment on ], ], the Federal Republic of Germany kept a notably low profile in international relations, because of both its recent history and its occupation by foreign powers. In 1999, however, on the occasion of the ], ]'s government assumed a new course by sending German troops into combat for the first time since ].<ref> ]. Oct. 14, 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
Germany and the ] have been close allies since the end of the World War II.<ref> U.S. Department of State. July 6, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> The ] and continued US support during the rebuilding process after World War II, as well as the significant influence American culture has had on German culture, have crafted a strong bond between Germany and the US that lasts to this day. Not only do the United States and Germany share many cultural similarities: they are also deeply economically interdependent; of all German exports, 8.8% are US-bound and 6.6% of German imports originate from the United States.<ref> U.S. Embassy in Berlin. May 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Other signs of the close ties between Germany and the US are the continuing status of German-Americans as the largest ethnic group in the US<ref> ] June 30, 2004. Retrieved ], ]</ref> and the status of ], close to the city of ] as the largest US military community outside the US.<ref> U.S. Military. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
===Armed forces=== | |||
{{main|Bundeswehr}} | |||
]'' in ] (2004)]] | |||
Germany's military, the '']'', is a defence force with '']'' (German Army), '']'' (German Navy), '']'' (German Air Force), ] (Central Medical Services) and '']'' (Joint Service Support Command) branches. Military Service is compulsory for men at the age of 18 and conscripts serve nine-month tours of duty. In 2003, military spending constituted 1.5% of the country's ].<ref name="CIA"/> In peacetime, the Bundeswehr is commanded by the Minister of Defence, currently ]. If Germany goes to war, which according to the constitution is allowed only for defensive purposes, the Chancellor becomes commander in chief of the German ''Bundeswehr''.<ref> Bundestag.de Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
Currently, the German military has almost 9,000 troops stationed in foreign countries as part of various international peacekeeping forces, including 1,180 troops stationed in ]; 2,844 Bundeswehr soldiers in ]; 750 soldiers stationed as a part of ] in the ]; and 2,800 German troops making up the largest contingent of the NATO-led ] force in ].<ref name="ARM"> International Herald Tribune. Oct. 31, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
===Energy policy=== | |||
] | |||
In 1999, electricity production in Germany was powered by ] (47%), ] (30%), ] (14%), ] (including ], ] and ]) (6%), and ] (2%).<ref> Energey Information Administration. Retrieved ], ]</ref> As for energy consumption, oil accounted for 41% of the total. At the ], the German government announced a ] reduction target of 25% by the year 2005 as compared to 1990, to ].<ref> AGORES. Retrieved ], ]</ref> In 2000, the German ]-led government along with (]), officially announced its intention to ]. ] as the Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, reached an agreement with energy companies ending the civil usage of ] by 2020. | |||
In 2005, the German government reached an agreement with ] to build a gas pipeline along the bottom of the ] directly from ] to Germany. Bypassing Poland and other Baltic countries lead to controversy. | |||
Due in part to generous subsidies, Germany leads Europe by having the greatest capacity on the continent to generate electricity from sun and wind.<ref>Steffen, Alex. World Changing. Dec. 24, 2004. Retrieved ], ]</ref> This achievement was boosted by the Renewable Energies Act (EEG), introduced on April 1, 2000, aimed at achieving a minimum 12% market share for renewable energy by 2010. By 2005, German ] capacity had reached 794 MWp (78.6% of total European capacity)<ref> Europa.eu. Retrieved ], ]</ref>, while ] capacity had reached 16,629 MWp (48.4% of European capacity)<ref>. Europa.eu. Retrieved ], ]</ref> It is estimated that the renewable industries now employ, directly or indirectly, more than 120,000 people. Germany has committed to a 21% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2012. In terms of total capacity to generate electricity from windpower, Germany is No.1 in the world and its emphasis on renewable energy sources has resulted in the founding of numerous high-tech companies for such technologies. Germany is also the main exporter of wind turbines, the demand greatly exceeding capacity.<ref> Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany) Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
==Society== | |||
===Religion=== | |||
{{main|Religion in Germany}} | |||
], Father of the Protestant ] and reformer of the German language, 1529]] | |||
Germany is the home of the ], began by ] in the early ]. Today, ] (concentrated in the north and east) comprise about 31% of the population and ]s (concentrated in the south and west) also 31%. The current ] ], ], was born in ]. In total, more than 55 million people officially belong to a ] denomination. | |||
Non-religious people (including ] and ] (especially in the former ])), amount to a total of 28.5% of the population (23.5 million).<ref> Religiosenwissenschaftlicher Medien- und Informationsdienst. Nov. 4, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
Approximately three million ]<ref> Deccan Herald from ]. Retrieved ], ]</ref> (predominantly from ] and some from the former ]) live in Germany. Most are ] and ] from ] but there are a small number of ].<ref> Euro-Islam.info. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
{{seealso|Islam in Germany}} | |||
Today's Germany has Western Europe's third-largest ]ish population.<ref>Blake, Mariah. ]. Nov. 10,2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> In 2004, twice as many Jews from former ] republics settled in Germany as in ], bringing the total Jewish population to more than 200,000, compared to 30,000 prior to ]. Jews have a strong voice in German public life through the ] (Central Council of Jews in Germany). Important cities with significant Jewish populations include ], ] and ].<ref> European Jewish Congress. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
{{seealso|History of the Jews in Germany}} | |||
===Social issues=== | |||
{{main|Social issues in Germany}} | |||
] became the first woman to hold the position of chancellor.]] | |||
Germany continues to struggle with a number of social issues. Although problems created by the ] of 1990 have begun to diminish, the ] is higher in the western half of the country. Germans continue to be concerned about a relatively high level of unemployment, especially in the former East German states where unemployment figures top 18%.<ref> Spiegel Online International. Sep. 5, 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Population growth is burdened with an extremely low ], the average being less than 1.39 children per mother, below the replacement rate. According to provisional figures from the Federal Statistics Office, 680,000 babies were born in Germany in 2005, down from a peak of 1.3 million in 1964 and fewer even than in 1945, when nearly all the country lay in rubble.<ref> Countrystudies.us- U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved ], ]</ref><ref name="CIA"/> | |||
Since World War II, Germany has experienced intermittent turmoil from various groups. In the 1970s ] ] organisations, such as the ], engaged in a string of assassinations and kidnappings against political and business figures and there has been a recent surge in right-wing nationalist crimes. According to former Interior Minister ], the number of these crimes rose in recent years, although this trend does not necessarily indicate a rise in membership in ] groups.<ref> Euro-Islam.info. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Critics have alleged, Germany has failed to fully implement ] laws prohibiting racial discrimination. The ] ruled on ] ], that Germany had breached EU law by failing to transpose fully the 'Racial Equality Directive' prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (Directive 2000/43/EC). Immigrants to Germany often face integration issues among other difficulties. | |||
The role and place of women in German society is also an ever-present issue: for centuries, that role was summed up by the three words: '']'' (children, kitchen, church). Throughout the twentieth century, women have gradually won battles in their quest for equal rights, although they remain noticeably absent in the top tiers of German business, holding only hold 9.2% of jobs in Germany's upper and middle management positions.<ref>Hoppenstedt business databank 2002</ref> The first woman to become ] is ], who was ]. | |||
===Education=== | |||
{{main|Education in Germany}} | |||
].]] | |||
Responsibility for education in Germany lies primarily with the ] while the federal government only has a minor role. <!-- Kulturhoheit --> Optional ] education is provided for all children between three and six years old, after which school attendance becomes ] for twelve years. Home-schooling is still practised by a small number of people and there has been some publicity to government prosecution of this practice.<ref> ] Nov. 16, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
] usually lasts for four years and public schools are not stratified at this stage. In contrast, ] includes the choice between four types of schools based on a pupil's ability as determined by teacher recommendations: the ] includes the most gifted children and prepares students for university studies; the ] has a broader range of emphasis for intermediary students; the ] prepares pupils for vocational education and the ] or comprehensive school combines the three approaches. In order to enter a university, high school students are required to take the ] examination, however students possessing a diploma from a vocational school may also apply to enter. A special system of apprenticeship called "Duale Ausbildung" allows pupils in vocational training to learn in a company as well as in a state-run school. | |||
<ref> U.S. Library of Congress. Dec. 2005. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Although Germany has had a history of a strong educational system, recent ], which tested students' comprehension of the respective subject matter, demonstrated a weakness in certain areas. In the test of 31 countries in the year 2000, Germany ranked 21st in reading and 20th in both ] and the ], prompting calls for reform.<ref> Deutsche Welle. Apr. 12, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
In the annual league of top-ranking universities compiled by ] in 2004, Germany came 4th overall, with 7 universities in the top 100, with the highest ranking university, at number 45, being the ].<ref> Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Most German universities are state-owned and were until recently free of tuition fees. However, a recently passed education reform calls for fees of around €500 per semester from each student, starting in 2006.<ref> German Academic Exchange Service. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
==Culture== | |||
{{main|Culture of Germany}} | |||
] was a significant German poet]] | |||
Germany is often known as ''das Land der Dichter und Denker'' (the land of poets and thinkers).<ref> Spiegel Online International. Apr. 6, 2006. Retrieved ], ]</ref> German culture began long before the rise of Germany as a ] and spanned the entire ] world. As a result, many historical figures, though not citizens of Germany in the modern sense, were influential in the German cultural sphere, including ], ] and ]. | |||
===Literature=== | |||
{{Main|German literature}} | |||
German literature can be traced back to the Middle Ages, with the most notable authors of the period being ] and ]. The ], whose author remains unknown, is also an important work of the epoch, as is the ]. The fairy tales collections published by ] became famous throughout the world. Theologian ], who translated the Bible into German, is widely credited for having set the basis for modern "High German" language. Among the most admired German ]s and authors are ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Four 20th century authors have won the ]: ], ], ] and ]. | |||
===Philosophy and the history of ideas=== | |||
]]] | |||
Germany's ] is historically significant and many ] have helped shape ] as early as the middle ages (]). Later, ] (17th century) and most importantly ] played central roles in the ]. ] inspired the work of ] as well as ] defended by ] and ]. ] and ] developed ] in the second half of the 19th century while ], ] and ] pursued the tradition of German philosophy in the 20th century. A number of German intellectuals were also influential in ], most notably ], ], ] (three central figures in the ]), ], ], ] and ]. The ] founded in 1810 by linguist and philosopher ] served as an influential model for a number of modern Western universities. | |||
===Music=== | |||
{{main|Music of Germany}} | |||
] was an influential German composer and pianist]] | |||
In the field of ], Germany claims some of the most renowned ] composers of the world including ] and the ]-born ], who marked the transition between the ] and ] eras in Western classical music. Other composers of international fame include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
As of 2006, Germany is the fifth largest music market in the world<ref> P2pnet.net Apr. 7, 2004. Retrieved ], ]</ref> and has exerted a strong influence on ] and ]. Artists such as ], ], ], ] and ] have enjoyed international fame. German musicians and, particularly, the pioneering band ] have also contributed to the development of ]<ref> Retrieved ], ]</ref>. | |||
===Cinema=== | |||
{{main|Cinema of Germany}} | |||
]'s '']'']] | |||
German cinema dates back to the very early years of the medium with the work of ]. It was particularly influential during the years of the Weimar Republic with ] such as ], ] and later ]. The Nazi era produced mostly propaganda films although the work of ] still introduced new aesthetics in film. From the 1960s, ] directors such as ], ], ], ] placed West-German cinema bak onto the international stage with their often provocative films, while the '']'' controlled film production in the GDR. More recently, films such as '']'' (1981), '']'' (1998), '']'' (2001), '']'' (2003), '']'' (2004) and '']'' (2004) have enjoyed international success. The ], held yearly since 1951, is one of the world's foremost film festivals. <ref>'', International Federation of Film Producers Associations, retrieved on December 11, 2006.''</ref> | |||
===Fine arts and decorative arts=== | |||
] building in ] (], 1925)]] | |||
Important German ] painters include ], ], ], ] and the well-known ]. The most important ] artists from Germany are ], as well as the ] born ]. Further artists are the ] ], the ] ], the ] ] or the ] ]. | |||
] contributions from Germany include the ] and ], important precursors of ]. The region then produced significant works in styles such as the ], ] and ]. The nation was particularly important in the early ]; the ] preceding the ] movement identified with ]. The ] closed these movements and favoured a type of ]. Since World War II, further important modern and post-modern structures have been built, particularly since the reunification of Berlin. | |||
==Science and Technology== | |||
] presenting ] with the Max-Planck medal in 1929]] | |||
Germany has been, and continues to be, the home of some of the most important researchers in various scientific fields.<ref> German Academic Exchange Service. Retrieved ], ]</ref> The work of ] and ] was crucial to the foundation of modern ], that ] and ] were able to develop further. They were preceded by such key physicists as ], ], and ], among others. ] discovered the ]s that proved to have such an important application in medical diagnosis, an accomplishment that made him the first winner of the ] in 1901. ]'s work in the domain of ] were pivotal to the development of modern ]. ] is credited with the establishment of ] as an independent empirical science through his construction of the first laboratory at the ] in 1879. ]'s work as a natural scientist and explorer was foundational to ]. Numerous important ]s were born in Germany, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
Germany has been the home of many famous ]s and ]s, such as ], who is credited with the invention of ] ] in Europe; ], the creator of the ]; ] scientist ]; and the prolific ], one of the fathers of ] technology. German inventors, engineers and industrialists such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] helped shape modern automotive and air transportation technology. ], ], ] are also important figures in the history of German technology. | |||
==Transport== | |||
] | |||
{{main|Transport in Germany}} | |||
Because of Germany's central position in Europe, the volume of traffic, especially the transit of goods, is very high. The country has one of the densest road systems in the world. It covers 231,581]s (144738 ]), including 12,200km (7,625 mi) of federal "]" motorways.<ref name="CIA"/> In contrast to other European countries, German motorways partially have no blanket ], although there are signposted limits in certain locations for safety concerns. | |||
] (German Rail) is the major German railway infrastructure and service operator. For commuter and regional services, franchises of various sizes are granted by the individual states, though largely financed from the federal budget.<ref>Crampton, Graham and Hass-Klau, Carmen. Tramways & Urban Transit. Mar. 1999. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Unsubsidized long-range service operators can compete freely all over the country, at least in theory. Actually, Deutsche Bahn holds a de facto monopoly on long-range services.<ref>Hooper, John. ]. Jan. 18, 2002. Retrieved ], ]</ref> The ] or ICE is a type of high-speed train operated by Deutsche Bahn in Germany and neighboring countries. Nearly all larger metropolitan areas are served by an ], a heavy rail metro system. A large proportion of towns feature underground and/or tram systems. Good urban and overland bus services are ubiquitous.<ref> iExplore. Retrieved ], ]</ref> | |||
] is a major international airport and European transportation hub. Frankfurt Airport ranks among the world's top ten airports and serves 304 flight destinations in 110 countries.<ref> Frankfurt Airport City. Retrieved ], ]</ref> Germany's second important international airport is ]<ref> Munich Airport International. Retrieved ], ]</ref> ; with other major airports including ], ], ] and ]. | |||
] and ] are Germany's most important ]s and among the busiest in the world<ref> | |||
''ISL Shipping Statistics Yearbook'', ISSN 0721-3220. See also </ref>. The ] which links the ] and the ] is the world's busiest artificial waterway.<ref> </ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
==Notes== | |||
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> | |||
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> | |||
<references /> | |||
</div> | |||
==References== | |||
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> | |||
*Beck, Heinrich and Heiko Steuer and Dieter Timpe, eds. ''Die Germanen. Studienausgabe. Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde.'' Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter 1998. Xi + 258 pp. ISBN 3-11-016383-7. | |||
*Collins, Roger. ''Early medieval Europe. 300-1000.'' 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Macmillan 1999. XXV + 533 pp. ISBN 0-333-65807-8. | |||
*Geary, Patrick J. ''Before France and Germany. The creation and transformation of the Merovingian world.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press 1988. Xii + 259 pp. ISBN 0-19-504458-4. | |||
*Geary, Patrick J. ''The Myth of Nations. The Medieval Origins of Europe.'' Princeton: Princeton University Press 2002. X + 199 pp. ISBN 0-691-11481-1. | |||
*Herrmann, Joachim. Griechische und lateinische Quellen zur Frühgeschichte Mitteleuropas bis zur Mitte des 1. Jahrtausends unserer Zeitrechnung. I. Von Homer bis Plutarch. 8. Jh. v. u. Z. bis 1. Jh. v. u. Z. II. Tacitus-Germania. III. Von Tacitus bis Ausonius. 2. bis 4. Jh. u. Z. IV. Von Ammianus Marcellinus bis Zosimos. 4. und 5. Jh. u. Z. Berlin: Akademie Verlag 1988 -1992. I: 657 pp. ISBN 3-05-000348-0. II: 291 pp. ISBN 3-05-000349-9. III: 723 pp. ISBN 3-05-000571-8. IV: 656 pp. ISBN 3-05-000591-2. | |||
*Pohl, Walter. ''Die Germanen. Enzyklopädie deutscher Geschichte'' 57. München: Oldenbourg 2004. X + 156 pp. ISBN 3-486-56755-1. | |||
*Pohl, Walter. ''Die Völkerwanderung. Eroberung und Integration.'' Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 2002. 266 pp. ISBN 3-17-015566-0. Monograph, German. | |||
* Todd, Malcolm. ''The Early Germans.'' Oxford: Blackwell 2004. Xii + 266 pp. ISBN 0-631-16397-2. | |||
* Jürgen Udolph. ''Namenkundliche Studien zum Germanenproblem.'' DeGruyter, Berlin 1994, ISBN 3-11-014138-8 | |||
*Wolfram, Herwig. ''History of the Goths.'' Berkeley: University of California Press 1988. Xii + 613 pp. ISBN 0-520-6983-8 {{Please check ISBN|0-520-6983-8 (too short)}}. | |||
*Wolfram, Herwig. ''The Roman Empire and its Germanic peoples.'' Berkeley: University of California Press 1997. XX + 361 pp. ISBN 0-520-08511-6. | |||
* Heinz Angermeier, ''Das Alte Reich in der deutschen Geschichte''. Studien über Kontinuitäten und Zäsuren, München 1991. | |||
* Karl Otmar Freiherr von Aretin, ''Das Alte Reich 1648-1806''. 4 vols. Stuttgart, 1993-2000. | |||
* Peter Claus Hartmann, ''Kulturgeschichte des Heiligen Römischen Reiches 1648 bis 1806''. Wien, 2001. | |||
* Georg Schmidt, ''Geschichte des Alten Reiches''. München, 1999. | |||
* ], ''The Holy Roman Empire''. ISBN 0-333-03609-3 | |||
* Jonathan W. Zophy (ed.), ''The Holy Roman Empire: A Dictionary Handbook''. Greenwood Press, 1980. | |||
* | |||
* George Donaldson, ''Germany: A Complete History''. Gotham Books, New York 1985. | |||
*Aronson, Theo. ''The Kaisers''. London: Cassell, 1971. | |||
*Blackbourn, David and Eley, Geoff. ''The Peculiarities Of German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics In Nineteenth-Century Germany''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984 ISBN 0-19-873058-6. | |||
*]. ''Germany: 1866-1945'', Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1978 ISBN 0-19-822113-4. | |||
*]. ''From Kaiserreich to Third Reich: Elements of Continuity in German History, 1871-1945''. (translated and with an introduction by Roger Fletcher) London: Allen & Unwin, 1986. ISBN 0-04-943043-2. | |||
*]. ''War of Illusions: German Policies from 1911 to 1914''. (translated from the German by Marian Jackson) New York: Norton, 1975. ISBN 0-393-05480-2. | |||
*Retallack, James. ''Germany In The Age of Kaiser Wilhelm II'', Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire : Macmillan ; New York : St. Martin's Press, 1996 ISBN 0-312-16031-3. | |||
*]. ''The Sword and the Scepter; the Problem of Militarism in Germany''. (translated from the German by Heinz Norden) Coral Gables: University of Miami Press 1969-73. | |||
*]. ''The German Empire, 1870-1918''. New York: Random House, 2000. ISBN 0-679-64090-8. | |||
*]. ''Imperial Germany 1867-1918: Politics, Culture, and Society in an Authoritarian Sate''. (translated by Richard Deveson from ''Der Autoritäre Nationalstaat'') London: Arnold, 1995. ISBN 0-340-64534-2. | |||
*]. ''The German Empire, 1871-1918''. (translated from the German by Kim Traynor) Leamington Spa, Warwickshire: Berg Publishers, 1985. ISBN 0-907582-22-2. | |||
*] ''The Nazi Seizure of Power : the experience of a single German town, 1922-1945'' by New York ; Toronto : F. Watts, 1984 ISBN 0-531-09935-0. | |||
* ]. ''The German Dictatorship; The Origins, Structure, and Effects of National Socialism''; New York, Praeger 1970. | |||
* Michael Burleigh. ''The Third Reich: A New History''. 2002. ISBN 0-8090-9326-X, standard scholarly history 1918-1945 | |||
* ] ''German National Socialism, 1919-1945'' translated from the German by Kurt Rosenbaum and Inge Pauli Boehm, Santa Barbara, Calif., Clio Press 1966. | |||
* ] ''The Hitler State : The Foundation and Development Of The Internal Structure Of The Third Reich'' by translated by John W. Hiden, London : Longman, 1981 ISBN 0-582-49200-9. | |||
* ]. ''The Coming of the Third Reich''. ISBN 0-14-100975-6, standard scholarly history to 1933 | |||
* ]. ''The Third Reich in Power'' 2005 ISBN 1-59420-074-2. the latest and most scholarly history | |||
* ]. ''A Social History of the Third Reich'' 1974 ISBN 0-14-013675-4. | |||
* ], ''Germany Beyond The Wall: People, Politics, and Prosperity'', Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1969. | |||
* ], ''The Defense Of Berlin'', Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1963. | |||
* ], ''The Papers Of Lucius D. Clay'', 2 Vols., Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1974. | |||
</div> | |||
==External links== | |||
{{sisterlinks|Germany}} | |||
{{cookbook}} | |||
{{portal|Germany|Flag of Germany.svg}} | |||
<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a link list nor a Web directory. If your link points to a site that does not cover many subjects about Germany, it's most likely in the wrong place here and you should go and search for a more specific article. --> | |||
<!-- General --> | |||
* — Official German portal | |||
* | |||
* — Germany's international broadcaster - its media visiting card throughout the world | |||
* | |||
* Facts and a quiz about Germany | |||
<!-- Germany facts and figures --> | |||
* — by the German Federal Foreign Office | |||
* — by the German Government Representative for Migration, Refugees and Integration | |||
* — Federal Statistical Office Germany (in English) | |||
<!-- Travel --> | |||
* — by Wikitravel.org | |||
* — by the German National Tourist Office | |||
<!-- Misc --> | |||
* and — Essays about German ], from ]. | |||
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Revision as of 14:20, 12 December 2006
Bob is a cool dog.